Pass XA30.5 enough power for Wilson Sophia 2?

In many rooms and depending on typical listening levels I suspect it is enough power, but there will be times in some settings, with some music, when it might make you wish you had the XA-60s. When it comes to the Pass line, I would by the amp with the fewest watts that are sifficient, I just think the lower the wattage the better the sound, IF, it is enough to drive your speakers. The XA30s are borderline and I can understand it being a difficult decision which, unfortuantely, you can only find the answer by trying them in your home with the music and volume levels you enjpoy.

As Bill said, "the amplifier has plenty of guts and should drive your Wilsons fine albeit not to paint peeling SPL." That sounds right and good an answer as I think you can get without trying it in your room.

Same experience as Tvad and Vinw with the XA.5s, but I use Merlin VSMs so I did not want to make to much of a cliam as it relates to deep bass. The XA30.5 (with the Aleph J not too far behind) is the best SS I have ever heard (still prefer tubes with speakers that are tube-friendly).

Why is the A/B headroom pointless if it keeps you from clipping in this small moments where you need the headroom? 99% of the time you'll be using 2-4 watts (Class A), no?

Nickt, at this point, do you think the XA30.5 will do it for you? What are you thinking based on the comments you have heard so far?

I am often surprised how bloomy (muddy?) acoustic bass sounds at live jazz venues (for that matter, how much more metallic trumpets sounds, and how much more dynamic drum kits sound....). The Pass versus BAT on the bass issue may be a matter of preference, not necessarily accuracy to the source. The Pass is definitely warmer, which proabably is why I like them, being a tube amp user.

That is quite a line-up of great preamps. I did once use the Audible Illusions 3A with the Aleph 3, which I think was 10kohm input impedance, and the AI3 was realtively high outut impedance, and I did not notice any problem driving the load. I would say that 95% of preamps should be OK with the Pass, it is an issue, but is not likely a problem with most, if not all, preamps - certainly not ideal for those seeking a passive path to preamplication.